SOPs, standards in place in facing second wave of flooding - DPM

The preparedness of the machinery for flood relief operations at the national, state and district levels and at evacuation centres to face the second wave of flooding that has hit the country is in accordance to standard operating procedures and standards set, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister and National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said that among the standards were on tents at evacuation centres and food, unlike previously (when there were no such standards).

"Food served at evacuation centres is no longer like before when it was instant noodles and sardines.

"To ensure that this time around preparations are up to the mark, agencies involved on flood relief are cooperating with the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority and the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority and several other agencies apart from the private sector," he said.

He was asked by reporters on this after receiving a courtesy call from New Zealand's Minister of Immigration at his office here today.

Ahmad Zahid said that he would be monitoring the flood relief operations and decide on mobilising suitable aid agencies as well as Tetra lorries owned by the Defence Ministry if there was a need.

"Mobile kitchens will also be mobilised," he said.

He said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim will be fully responsible for coordinating aid during and after this second wave of flooding.

Ahmad Zahid also expressed his fears about this second wave, saying the west coast of the peninsula had also been hit because rain brought by the Northeast Monsoon winds had reached far beyond the Main Range coupled with rain brought by Northwest winds.

"This is why disaster aid agencies are in a high state of preparedness," he said.

Ahmad Zahid added that based on the Meteorological Department's forecasts, the second wave was expected to last until March.

After east coast states Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu were hit in the first wave, the same states were hit again in the second along with west coast states like Johor, Perak, Melaka and Selangor.